Vehicle occupant support

Abstract

Vehicle occupant support for enhanced comfort and utility in a vehicle with arrangements for crash load protection of occupants. Virtual navigation device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An occupant support for an occupant attached to a floor of a cabin of a vehicle comprising a seat back with principal support provided by a central spine pivotally attached at its lower end to at least one of a support structure and a seat bottom: wherein said central spine is enabled to articulate to change its inclination under discretionary control by the occupant for comfort; wherein said central spine comprises a section with a constant cross section; wherein said central spine supports a plurality of vertebrae; wherein each of said vertebrae are slidably attached to the section of the spine with a constant cross section so as to provide each of said vertebrae a single degree of freedom of linear motion with regard to the spine; wherein said constant cross section of the spine precludes rotational motion about an axis along said spine; wherein each of said vertebrae supports at least one rib-fin that is adapted support the occupant; and wherein the occupant is enabled to displace said plurality of vertebrae for comfort while occupying said occupant support. 
     
     
       2. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein said slidable motion of at least one vertebra of said plurality of vertebrae is restricted along the axis of the spine, thereby limiting a change in the position of the vertebra and the supported rib-fin on the spine and its support position on the back of the occupant. 
     
     
       3. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of vertebrae each have their position on the spine controlled by the occupant to a position of comfort while said occupant is in a desired position on the occupant support. 
     
     
       4. An occupant support as in  claim 3 , wherein said control of the position of said plurality of vertebrae is enabled with at least one cable each attached at first ends to each of the plurality of vertebrae and enabled to actuate each of said plurality of vertebrae, and each of said at least one cable attached at their respective second ends to points on a plurality of circumferences of a segment of a spool, said plurality of circumferences corresponding to a plurality of radii, wherein said segment of the spool is adapted to provide, upon rotation through a predetermined angle, a release of each of said cables by a movement of the vertebra attached to said cable, thereby providing means to modify the position of each of the plurality of vertebrae on the spine with the spool controlled by the occupant. 
     
     
       5. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rib-fin comprises at least one air-filled cushion adapted to be inflated to predetermined pressures for the comfort and size of the occupant at the position along the spine of the at least one rib-fin, actuated to that position by the occupant. 
     
     
       6. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , further comprising a lateral deployment space for said occupant support, wherein the at least one rib-fin comprises at least one section positioned to support the occupant in the direction of motion of the vehicle and adapted to be retractable towards the spine in the event of an object intruding into said lateral deployment space of said occupant support with contact to said retractable rib-fin, during a rapid deceleration of said vehicle. 
     
     
       7. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein said spine has a cross section that induces a motion of the occupant due to inertial loading during deceleration of the vehicle such that one or both of: the occupant is oriented at an angle toward the rear of the vehicle; and wherein the head of the occupant is raised, thereby increasing a support surface area of the occupant support, during such deceleration and enabling one or both of: increasing the support surface area of contact of the occupant with the occupant support; and increasing the reaction force of the occupant support on the occupant. 
     
     
       8. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rib-fin comprises a structural element between an attachment to the spine and a point of support for the occupant, wherein said structural element is enabled to flex during impact loadings to reduce peak loadings on the occupant. 
     
     
       9. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one rib-fin comprises a plurality of adjacently placed rib-fins, said adjacently placed rib-fins being spaced apart to allow flexing of the spine without contact between adjoining rib-fins. 
     
     
       10. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein one or more vertebra of the plurality of vertebrae supports a hip bolster. 
     
     
       11. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rib-fin has sliding lateral supports for the occupant that can either reduce or extend the width of the occupant support under crash loadings. 
     
     
       12. An occupant support as in  claim 1 , wherein the position and orientation of a plurality of support elements on the backrest are controlled by a lever on the side of the occupant. 
     
     
       13. An occupant support for an occupant comprising a seat back with principal support provided by a central spine pivotally attached at its lower end to at least one of a support structure and a seat bottom: wherein said central spine is enabled to articulate to change its inclination under discretionary control by the occupant; wherein said central spine comprises a section with a constant cross section; wherein said central spine supports a plurality of vertebrae; wherein each of said vertebrae are slidably attached to the section of the spine with a constant cross section; wherein said constant cross section of the central spine precludes rotational motion about an axis along said spine; wherein each of said vertebrae support at least one rib-fin that is adapted support the occupant; wherein said control of the position of said plurality of vertebrae is enabled with at least one cable each attached at first ends of each of the plurality of vertebrae and enabled to actuate each of said plurality of vertebrae, and each of said at least one cable attached at their respective second ends to points on a plurality of circumferences of a segment of a spool said plurality of circumferences corresponding to a plurality of radii, wherein said segment of the spool is adapted to provide, upon rotation through a predetermined angle, a release of each of said cables by a movement of the vertebra attached to said cable, thereby providing means to modify the position of each of the plurality of vertebrae on the spine with the spool controlled by the occupant.